Firefighters searched for missing people and hoped for cooler, calmer weather Wednesday after deadly wildfires raced across thousands of acres of grassland dried out by Texas' worst drought in decades and destroyed dozens of homes. The wind-driven fires were blamed for four deaths, the Texas Division of Emergency Management said Wednesday. In addition to the deaths, at least three people were unaccounted for Wednesday in Cross Plains, a town of about 1,000 people, fire officials said. More than 100 buildings, including 78 homes, were destroyed by Tuesday's fires, the state emergency management agency said. ... http://www.cbsnews.com

The number of people indicted in a scheme that bilked thousands of dollars from a Red Cross fund designated for Hurricane Katrina victims has risen to 49, federal authorities said. At least 14 suspects worked at a Red Cross call center in Bakersfield and are accused of helping family and friends file false claims for aid money, said Mary Wenger, a spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott in Sacramento. Six have pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges since the first indictments were announced in October, she said Tuesday. The fake claims drained at least $200,000 from the fund, with an average payout of about $1,000, Red Cross spokeswoman Devorah Goldburg said. The total could rise as the investigation continues, she said. ...http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-12-27-katrina-fund_x.htm?csp=34

Interpol, the international police agency, issued an "international wanted persons notice" Wednesday for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the head of al Qaeda in Iraq.The agency issued the "Red Notice" at the request of the North African nation of Algeria, which is pursuing the arrest of the insurgent leader "in connection with the kidnapping and murder" in July of two Algerian diplomats in Iraq.Red notices are passed along to all of Interpol's 184 member countries. They "serve to communicate to the world's police that a suspect is wanted by a member country and request that the suspect be placed under provisional arrest pending extradition," said Interpol, headquartered in Lyon, France.Al Zarqawi is wanted by U.S. and Iraqi authorities in connection with a slew of terror-related actions in Iraq and he is being sought by Jordan, where his group claimed responsibility for last month's deadly hotel attacks....http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/12/28/zarqawi.interpol/index.html?section=cnn_world

A row has broken out in the UK over a deal to cancel part of Nigeria's $30bn (£17bn) debt to Western nations. Religious leaders say that although the deal would relieve Nigeria of nearly $18bn in debt, it would still have to repay a further $12bn in coming months. They said it would be a huge burden for Nigeria which is one of the world's poorest countries despite oil wealth. But critics say funds available from abroad only benefit Nigeria's rich elite, which cares little for the poor. The head of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, Rev David Coffey, said debt relief is a matter of justice, not charity. "We want to secure that debt cancellation. We applaud the UK and Nigerian governments' efforts to secure debt cancellation for Nigeria," he told BBC Radio Four's Today programme. He pointed out that of the $12bn that would still have to be repaid, "$1.7bn is coming to the UK - and that figure is twice as much as the UK is giving in aid to the whole of Africa in 2005." ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4562438.stm

A 12-inch hole in the fuselage of an Alaska Airlines jet caused the plane to lose cabin pressure, forcing the pilots to make an emergency descent and return to the airport, authorities said Tuesday. The incident Monday involved an MD-80 jet en route from Seattle to Burbank, Calif. The plane landed safely at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, and none of the 140 passengers was hurt. A baggage handler acknowledged that he failed to report immediately striking the plane at the gate Monday with a baggage cart or baggage-belt machine, said Jim Struhsaker, a spokesman for the National Transportation Safety Board....http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1447450

Leftist rebels ambushed a group of soldiers Tuesday who were protecting civilians in southern Colombia, killing 28 in the deadliest rebel attack in a year marked by hundreds of military deaths, officials said. About 400 rebels with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, surprise attacked 80 troops near Vista Hermosa, 105 miles south of Bogota, said brigade commander Col. Carlos Ramirez. Initial reports by several military officials indicated the soldiers were protecting government workers during a coca eradication effort when the rebels attacked. But Defense Minister Camilo Ospina told reporters that the workers eradicating coca the source of cocaine had finished the job nine days ago and already left the region. ...http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1447460